Ezra 9:3
1 After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
2 Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”
When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.
4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.
5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.
- KJV
- And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
- WEB
- When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
- ASV
- And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
- DARBY
- And when I heard this thing, I rent my mantle and my garment, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down overwhelmed.
- BLB
- And at my hearing this word, I tore my garment and my robe, and I pulled out some of the hair of my head and beard, and I sat down appalled.
- ÅB
- Da jeg hørte dette, sønderrev jeg min kjortel og min kappe og rev hår av hodet og skjegget og satt i stum sorg.
- OTB
- Da jeg hørte dette, rev jeg i stykker kappen og kappen min, rev hår fra hodet og skjegget mitt, og satte meg ned fullstendig forferdet.
- B1930
- Da jeg hørte dette, sønderrev jeg min kjortel og min kappe og rev hår av hodet og skjegget og satt i stum sorg.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Nehemiah 1:4
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Read in contextJoshua 7:6
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.
Read in contextDaniel 4:19
For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
Read in contextJob 1:20
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,
Read in contextDaniel 8:27
I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was confounded by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
Read in contextPsalms 143:4
My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
Read in contextJeremiah 48:37–38
For every head is shaved and every beard is clipped; on every hand is a gash, and around every waist is sackcloth.
Read in contextJob 2:12–13
When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.
Read in context